Homeward-bound 'panther'
craves just one more hunt
By: LCpl Guy Cornwell
DA NANG - The Panther was soon to go back to his home but craved for just one last hunt.
The Panther, as his company calls him, is Captain Wiley M. Clapp, commanding officer of
"I" company, 3rd Battalion, Seventh Marines, 1st Marine Division.
His prey was an estimated company of Viet Cong suspected to be within his company's
operation area.
Although the veteran of over 15 combat operations was leaving Vietnam the next day,
he chose to go on one more operation.
Leaving before dawn in order to suprise the enemy, the Panther led his men down the
river bank hoping to make contact with the Viet Cong that ran the supply routes in and
out of the area.
After uncovering two high-explosive booby traps on the trail Captain Clapp cautioned
his men to be as quiet and careful as possible.
He was sure the enemy was near.
He was right. The mid-day silence was shattered by the crack of a light carbine.
The lead machine-gunner was hit.
"Corpsman up," the Panther yelled as he continued to fire.
He only had to yell that twice during the hour-long firefight.
The Viet Cong had to say it over and over.
Although pinned down by automatic rifle fire the company returned deadly fire into
the underbrush and across the river. Once during the fight, the Panther himself ran
through enemy fire to pull one of his wounded men off the trail.
The outcome of the hunt - 12 Viet Cong killed - was a victory for the Marines of
"I" Co.
His last hunt successful, the Panther left the nect day for his home in Pamona,
Calif., amid shouts of goodwill from the men of his company. One said of the departing
Marine officer, "He'll come back; he enjoys the hunt too much."
